Concentrator.



J. F. SBELL.

CONCENTRATOR.

Lgw "m Patented May 29,1917.

3 SHEETS SHEET l.

I. F. SBELL.

CONCENTRATOR.

APNIC/wwwrun DEC. l?. 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented May 29, 1917.

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l. F. ISBELL.

CONCENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED psc. I?, I9I2.

Patnted May 29, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNITE@ %TATE% @ATENE @FFIGE JOHN F. ISBELL, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNGR', 'BY IJIFSNE ASSIGNMENTS, IO GEORGE L. KNIGHT, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CONCEN'IBATOB.

. 1,22*? 792. Specification of Letters Patent. l-gtfmtd @Tiwy 2g, 191W, Application filed December 17, 1912. Serial 1\l'o.v`73"l',31?-.

T all whom t may Concern: l connected to said table to produce a reciple it known that I, Joiin F. lsniiii, a iocatiiig longitudinal movement thereof. citizen of the United States, residing' at Los rIhe table 1 may be of any suitable form,

Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and for example, rectangular, having side walls 5 btate of California, have invented a new G and having an enl wall 7 at he upper 60 and useful Concentrator, of which the foloi' head end of the table, the loweil end o lowing is specification. the table being open and terminating in a rlhis invention relates to a concentrator downturned lip or tail plate S over which and slime separator, and is an improvement the tailings and iniddlings are discharged. over my application, filed April 6, 1912, rhe table is preferably mounted so as to 65 Serial No. 688,855, the machine constituting have a slight downward inclination from this invention being adapted for use both the head to the tail end, and is provided in concentration and in slime se )ai-ation. with a slight rise S. see Fig. Ll at the tail n v l L] l k* 7 rhe main obiect of the present invention end so as to dam up or hold bach the ore is to provide improved means for lirst and waterat that point. Any suitable feed 70 stratifying the contents of the ore according or supply means is provided at the head to density and then immediately sepaiwitiiigend of tl e table, consisting, for example, the heavier lower portions of the stratified of feed boxes 10 adapted to receive the ore material from the reinai der of the ore. and feed water and to discharge the same A further object of the invention is to over a lip 10 at the upper end of tie feed 75 p1-Oude for meeting agamgt the advancing bon, the ore and water then passing under body of stratified material, a current of the feed box on to the surface of the table water moving directly in opposition to the 1. The table 1 and the walls 6 and l may movement of the heavier portions of the be made of wood orv any other sui'ablc ma- 2 ore, and serving to clean or wash away from terial and said table may be covered with 80 such heavier portions, the lighter portions a suitable waterproof surface such as linoof the ore. leum, indicated at 12 (Fig. e). rlhe table A further object of the invention is to is shown as provided with a central partiprovide for convenient and accurate regution or wal 13 extending longitudinally Alation of the operation of the separating thereof and dividing the table into two 85 means. similar table portions or units, each pro- Other obiects of the invention will appear vided with its own feed box 10 :ind with hereinafter. similar separating and. discharge devices so The accompanying drawings illustrato an that a description of onehal of the table embodiment of the invention, and referring will serve for both. Each half of the table 9( thereto: is provided with riiiie means tending to pro- Figure 1 is a plan of the machine. duce concentration along a central longi- Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereo'.A I tiidinal line on said half table, but it wil Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion of the lower be understood that the concentration may end portion of the coiicentrator table. be effected upon any longitudinal line on the Fig. e 'is a section on line alf/r4 in 3. talile. @n the surface of each half of the Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 005 in table 1 are provided riflies 15 and 15 ex- Fig. 1. tending along the table surface from the Fie. 6 isa section on line afac in Fig. 3. side thereof, oblioluely toward the tail end Fig/T isaperspective of one of the separaof the table and terminating aliacent to tors. the longitudinal concentrating line. rlhus Fig. S `is a side elevation of the head nioin the form shown herein, where the ccntion for the table. centrating line is at the center of the half rElie concentrator and slime separator conportion of the table, these riffles will termistituting the present invention, comprises a nate ad]acent to tie centrzl longitudinal table 1, supported by suitable supports 2 line of said hall portion. The riffles 1o on a base 3. so as to be capable of loiigiwhich are nearer the head end of the table tudinal movement, said table being proare preferably separated at their tail ence vided with riflies and with separator means to provide passages 16 through which thi 9 5 hereinafter ser, ger-tn, a nea@ metion ore and water may pass, and the riflies 15,

sob

a water supply pipe or nipple devices 8O connected through a valve 31 with a water pipe or hose 33 leading of the table are joined o separating ese separating' *ach separating device consists of a box said pipe 32 extending longitudinally over lo 18, preferably of metal, the lower portion of ie series ol' sepaiator boxes 18, so as to su said box being' V-shaped in iorizontal secply watei to all of the boxes for one table tion, the divergent walls 17 of the lower poriiiii An opening is provided in the to i tion of said box resting on the table surface of the separator box above the bottoni pla te and abutting at their outer ends against the 24. and outlet pipe 25 to enable access to and ower ends of the riflies l5 so that said walls inspection of said space, and a closure plate are in line with the respective riiHes and is provided for this opening' which is orni, substantially, con inuations of the inovably secured in position by a thumb riHes. top plate 19 extends above and is screw 38. The lower top plate 19 preferably 80 connected to the walls 17 and is provided terminates about on a line with the forward with diverging arms 2O having' extensions ec gc of the bottom p ate 211, so thaJ the 20 adapted to extend over the tail ends of water deliveied fiom the space above said ri es 15 rlhe riifles 15 are provided with top plate passes into the space above said flanges extending horizontally along their ottom p a e and then rearwardly under upper edges and projecting toward the cenhe plate 10 The upper portion 28 of the ter line or axis of the table into the adjaseparator box extends above the rifl'les 15 cent riHe spaces, said flanges being, for cxand is V-shaped or tapered rearwardly so as ample, formed by metal strips 21 somewhat o present .i sharp edge in the path of the wider than the body of the riflle and sestream of water and material passing over cured to the riiile by screws or brads The the top plate 19 of the separator, the side )odies of the riiiies 15 and l5 may consist of walls of this upper portion of the separator wooden stri s At t eir forward ends these box beine continued forwardly and convergseparator strips 2l abut against the outer ing forwardly to foim a shaip edge so that ends of the arms 2O of the top plate aforethe upper portion of the separator box is said, said arms 2O being at their outer ends. diamond shaped. This construction of the somewhat wider than t e riiiles 15 and inuppei poition of the separator box proci easing in width toward their inner ends. vides for minimum obstruction to the stream ie arms 20 and top plate 19 incline npof water and material flowing past the sepawardly in a forward direction, so that the ratoi box arting strips 39 are provided at 100 space below the top plate increases in height opposite sides of the separators and spaced orwardly. The si e walls 17 of e sepat erefrom to leave passages at each side of rator box converoe forwardly and termitiie upper portions of the separators said nate in a wedge s aped forward end porstrips being secuied to the tops of the ritiles tion 18 of the box, and a bottom plate or and of the sepaiators by screws 39 which 105 ange 24 extends from said end of the also secuie said strips to cross pieces 36 ox forwardly between the side walls 17, servino as races. The lower edges of the said plate or flange 24 havin@ a horizonside stiips 39 are llush with and rest upon tal lower face resting on the table surface the iiiiies 15 and the lower portions of said an having an inclined upper face 24 so strips aie notched as shown at 53, see Fig. 110 that the said plate tapeis to a knife ed e at o, to receive the boxes 18 Af er the las* set its forward end. n o tlet pipe or tube 25 oi rifiles 15, leading to the separators, there extends through said bottom plate, said pipe may be additional riifles l5 for giving a final preferabl screwing into said plate so as to wash of tie tai ings on the separator riftles e adjustable therein by turning the pipe, 15, the innei ones of siid tei ininal riflles 15 115 esaid pipe extending downwardly through dis( iai eine at their inner and owei ends the table l, for conveying' the concentrates to into a central discharge channel 54, below any suitable delivery means. The separator and between the side strips 39 so that the ox is further provided with a water sun l heavier portions of such tailings are brought means adapted to delivei water into the to the center along with the tailings from space oi chamber 26, within 1 he box so that the separator boxes, and means are provided said water will pass rearwardly beneath the 4or separately collecting the combined distop plate 19 of the box. To distribute the charge from this central poition, so that the water uniformly and without violent agitasame may be used as middlings and worked tion, the water is preferably supplied over over again if desired *or this purpose, desai top plate 19, the said box having an upec ors oi wings 55 are pivotally per portion 28 constituting a water box extending over said top plate and closed at any suitable conveying means such as a the top by a top plate 29, leaving a space bechute 57 is located beneath said lip adjacent tween the top plates 19 and 29 with which to said deflectors so that th guided by said deflectors onto said conveying means. The parting strips 39 are connected at their upper or head ends by plates 5S extending inwardly and rearwardly to form a V-shaped deflector which parts the upper portions of the forwardly moving niaterial and deflects it to either side of the space or passage 59 between the parting strips.

The head motion el. may be of any suitable type, but is preferably of the type shown in Fig. 8, as 1 have found that this construction of head motion gives the most rapid travel to the material on the table. Said head motion comprises a frame 40, a shaft Lil journaled in said frame and driven by pulleys 42, an eccentric i3 carried by said shaft, a lever Ll-loperated by said eccentric, a rocker arm et?) pivotally mounted at i5 on frame LO, a link 46 pivotally connected to said lever l-l and forming in conjunction therewith, a toggle, an adjustable mounting -fl-i' for said toggle link 46, said adjustable mounting being mounted to slide vertically on the frame 40 and adjusted by a screw 48. The rocker arm 45 is connected to a bar 49 engaging, by nuts 50 thereon, with a bracket 5l on the table l, a spring 52 being interposed between frame 40 and a collar 53 on the bar 50. A. ring 60 is rotatable on eccentric 43 and bears against lever et, said eccentric turning within said ring, and as the eccentric turns, the point of contact of ring 60 with lever 44 shifts along the curved face llei, th-e ring rolling along said face, so that by suitably curving this face, the motion of the lever and of the toggle may be caused to give a sharper return action than is possible with direct crank action on the toggle. IThis head motion operates in the usual manner to produce a longitudinal reciprocation of the table with a rapid return or jerk at the forward end of its stroke, tending to cause the solid material on the table to become displaced longitudinally of the table by back travel of the table under such material, so that there is a continual tendency due to such motion, for the heavy material to travel longitudinally of the table from the head toward the tail end thereof.

The support-s 2 for the table may consist of elastic metal bars connected to the base 3 and to the table 1, so as to permit of reciprocating movement of the table.

The operation is as follows: Ore, together with feed water is supplied to the feed box 10, and passing onto the upper end of the table is distributed uniformly over the width of the table, and carried longitudinally of the table by the combined action of the current of water flowing from the upper toward the lower end of the table, and the displacing action due to the longitudinal reciprocation by the head motion as above described. rthis longitudinal reciprocation also produces a settling action tending to cause the heavier material to settle or stratify toward the bottom. The amount of material supplied is sufficient to cover the riflles on the table and extend somewhat above the riffles, the dam or rise 8 at the tail end of the table serving to retain the table at the proper depth. That portion of the material which is above the riflles is carried over the riflles by the action of the current, whereas that portion of the material which is below the top of the riilies is carried obliquely inward toward the concentrating line or longitudinal axis of the machine, and the preliminary riffles 15 operate in this manner to separate from the body of ore the heavier constituents and deliver them through the central passages l16 to the first separator 1S. The riffles 15 leading to the side walls of the respective separators operate in similar manner to convey to the respective separators the heavier materials which have settled below th-e top of the respective riifles 15', while allowing the lighter materials above the top of the riiiies to be washed over the rifiles by the flow of said water. This skimming or selnirating action of the riflles 15 and 15 is made more effective by the flanges or strips 21 on top of said rifllcs, said flanges extend.- ing into the riffle space on the head side of the ritlies, and sharply dividing the material below said flanges from the material above the same, so as to give a sharper definition to the separating action. By the above described means the concentrates or values of the ore are first stratified and caused to settle below the top or separating edges of the riflies, and are then deflected by the riffles so as to be forced into the respective separators, while the lighter constituents or gangue is carried over the riffles by the water flowing longitudinally of the table over the riii'les'. Necessarily, however, the separating action of any one riffle is not perfect, as there will be more or less gangue or sand mixed with the concentrates collected by each riifle and on the other hand, for the preliminary riffles at least, more or less of the values will pass over the riiiles on account of not having had sufficient opportunity to settle below the tops of the rifiies. By providing a large number of riftles acting successively on the orc, it is possible to insure that substantially all of the values will eventually pass below the tops of the riffles, and will be delivered to the separators, and the gangue or lighter material which is washed over the terminal riiiies and carried over the tail end of the table is, therefore, substantially free of values. To clean the concentrates collected by the rifi'les and carried to each separator box, without having to subject it to a (further riifling operation, means are provided for washing such concentrates by the action of a current of Water flowing back in opposition to the moven'ient of the concentrates toward the discharge or outlet therefor, this means consisting of the water supply means aforesaid for the separator boxes, the water from said water supply means passing into the water box or space above the plate 29 and then down into the space 2G and then baclmvardly under the plate :29 in opposition to the forward movement of the ore under said plate 29. rlhe concentrates collected by the ritlies l5 move forwardly under the plate 19 within the separator box by the displacing action due to the longitudinal reciprocating motion of the table and by reason of the forward inclination or rise of the bottom plate 24 and of the accumulation of ore on said plate due to elevation of the discharge pipe 25 above said plate 24k, the body of the concentrates has to rise when passing forwardly to the said outlet so that its forward motion is retarded and sul'licient opportunity is thereby given for the wash water in passing backwardly over the ore to clean the ore and carry the lighter materials out of the separator box and above the body of ore into the separator box. This material so separated from the concentrates will, in general, be in the nature of middlings and it is desirable to keep the saine separated from the lighter material or gangue which passes over the riflies 15 and l5', this function being effected by the side strips 39 extending parallel to the concentrating line, and spaced sufliciently from the sides of the water boxes 2S to enable the material thus washed from the concentrates to pass longitudinally of the stream in a separate stream from the main body of ore, this separate stream. being delivered at the tail end of the machine between the deflectors or wings 55 and being guided thereby to any suitable collecting chute, such as indicated at 57, the passage 64 between the side strips constituting` a clear water channel which is separated from the current over the main body of the rifiies by said parting strips, whereby the clear water from the backwash is kept separate from the feed water. Moreover, said parting strips serve to shear off or hold back the upper, lighter strata of material and keep it from passing into the central passage 54, and .into the cut outs or separator boxes. By spreading the wings 55 more or less, they may be made to take in the tailings from the innermost riflie space in addition to the middlings coming from between the side strips 39 and from the inner riflie spaces directly into the central channel 54.

On account of the protection of the heavier material after it settles into the spaces between the riii'les, and of the immediate separation of such material and its collection and discharge through the separators, it is possible with this machinev to concentrate materials containing large proportions of slimes, the heavier portions of the shines passing` with the concentrates notwithstanding their' fine state of division. By adjusting the outlet pipes 25 to different heights, the character of the concentrates discharged through the several pipes may be regulated as desired, it being understood that the more the pipe is elevated the higher the concentrates have to bank up before they can pass into the pipe and the concentrates thereby separated will be cleaner but will be smaller in quantity.

lVhat I claim is:

l. ln a concentrator, a table, means for longitudinally reciprocating said table, means for supplying water and material at one end of said table, riflfles extending obliquely on said table from one side thereof to a concentrating line extending longitudinally of the table, and separators having walls continuous with the riiies and having outlet means through which the material is guided by said riffles and walls, said outlet means being vertically adjustable to control the height of the discharge therethrough.

2. ln a concentrator, a table, means for longitudinally reciprocating means for supplying water and material at one end of said table, riffles extending obliquely on said table from one side thereof to a concentrating line extending longitudinally of the table, and separators having walls continuous with the riffles, said riifles having flanges extending from the tops of the riiles inwardly over the space between the rifl'les, and said separators having top portions extending between the separator walls and having portions abutting the inner ends of the flanges on said riiiies.

3. In a concentrator, a table, means for longitudinally reciprocating said table, means for supplying water and material at one end of said table, riflles extending obliquely on said table from one side thereof to a concentrating line extending longitudinally of the table, and separator boxes having walls continuous with the rifl'les, a top plate for each separator box, each separator bex being provided with a water chamber above said top plate having an outlet into the separator chamber at the rear of said top plate, and parting strips at opposite sides of said water chamber and spaced therefrom to form a central passage between said narting strips.

4L. In a concentrator, a table, means for longitudinally reciprocating said table, feed means at one end of the table, riflles extending obliquely on said table, separator boxes having side walls continuous with said riles, and parting strips extending above and at each side of said separator boxes.

5. In a concentrator, a table, means for longitudinally reciprocating said table, feed means at one end of the table, riilies said table,

extending obliquely on said table, separator boxes having side walls continuous with said riftles, means for supplying wash water to the separator boxes, said boxesbeing open at the rear for receiving ore and for discharge of wash water, outlet means in each separator box, and parting strips extending above and at each side of said sepa lator boxes, forming a clear water channel adjacent the separator boxes.

G. An ore separator, comprising a horizontal shaking table, an ore outlet leading` through the table and a cutoff extending across the table, said cutoff comprising means forming a chamber leading to the ore outlet, means forming a second chamber above the lirst chamber, there being a water inlet for the second chamber so that as the gangue approaches the ore outlet it will be met by a stream of clear water which will carry the lighter material upwardly and past the ore outlet.

7. ln combination, a longitudinally reciprocating separator table, a horizontal strata separator member extending above the table, a chamber formed above the table and communicating with the space beneath said separator member, an outlet means communicating with said chamber, and means for supplying water to .said chamber at a point in the upper portion of the chamber to produce a stream of water 'Howing upwardly 'under the said separator member in opposition to the flow of gangue.

8. An ore separator comprising, in combination with a longitudinally reciprocating separator table, an inclined strata separator member extending above the table and spaced therefrom to form an inclined channel between said member and table through which the heavier portion of the ore passes, outlet means in the said table communicating with said channel to receive the ore therefrom, and means for forcing a current of water upwardly in said channel in opposition to the movement of the ore therethrough.

9. In an ore separator, a longitudinally reciprocating separator table, a chamber on said table, provided with a channel at one end for receiving the ore passing along the table, outlet means in the table communicating with said chamber, and means for supplying water to said chamber to produce a current of water through said channel in opposition to the movement of ore therethrough.

l0. An ore separator comprising a table, means for longitudinally reciprocating said table to cause the ore to advance thereon and become stratified, an ore outlet means leading through the table, and a cutoff comprising a separator member spaced above the table to permit the heavier portion of the ore to pass beneath said separator member, said cutoffl also comprising walls for guiding the ore passing beneath said separator member to said ore outlet, and water inlet means for supplying water to the space between said walls.

ll. An ore separator comprising a horizontal shaking table, means forming a concentrates outlet through the table, and a cutoff extending across the table, said cut-off comprising means forming a chamber leading to the concentrates outlet, and means forming a second chamber above the first chamber, there being a water inlet for the second chamber, so that as the ore approaches the concentrates outlet it will be met by a stream of clear water which will carry the lighter material upwardly and past the concentrates outlet.

l2. ln combination, a longitudinally reciprocating separator table upon which the gangue flows longitudinally, a strata separator member extending above the table, a chamber formed on the table and communicating with the space beneath said sep rator member, an outlet means communieating with said chamber, and means for supplying water to said chamber to produce a stream of water flowing upwardly under the said separator member longitudinally of the table in opposition to the longitudinal low of gangue.

13. An ore separator comprising a table, means for longitudinally reciprocating said table to cause the ore to advance thereon and become stratified, an ore outlet means leading through the table, and a cut-oft' comprising a separator member spaced above the table to permit the heavier portion of the ore to pass beneath said separator member, said cut-off also comprising walls for guiding the ore passing beneath said separator member to said ore outlet, and water inlet means for supplying water to the space between said walls and adapted to produce a stream iowing longitudinally of the table in opposition to the longitudinal flow of the gangue.

ln testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 20th day of November, 1912.

JOHN F. ISBELL.

In presence of- ARTHUR P. KNIGHT, MARTHA M. LANGE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

